Gas shut-off.



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GAS SHUT-OFF.

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APPLiOATION FILED 11 Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

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L. W. THEIS 4 GAS SHUT-OFF. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1912.

1,125,210. Patented Jan. 19,1915.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1912- 1,125,210. I PafpentedJan.19,19-15.

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LEBOY 7V9 THEIS, CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE' ASSIGNMENTS, TOSTEPHEN H. BROOKS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

GAS SHUT-OFF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 19, 1915.

Application filed November 11, 1912. Serial No. 730,629.

To (ZZZ-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY W. THEIs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Shut-Oifs, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas or other shut-oil valves,through which greater certainty of action is secured than. .with devicesof this class heretofore used.

The peculiar phase ofthis kind of services lies in the fact that suchsafety valves in the large majority of cases will stand unused fornumbers of years. Suddenly an emergency arises and the valve shut-off issup posed to act without any doubt whatever. In view of the longinaction of. the moving parts they are liable to stick and remaininoperative at the most critical time, thus nullifying their protectivevalue absolutely. in view of these severe service conditions it isimperative that the worst contingencies be anticipated as nearly aspossible.

The distinctive features of my improvements lie in providing anautomatic thermal release at local or distant stations operablemechanically as described; a gravity accelerated arm pivoted tothe'valve stem lever; a quick release catch in the valve box; anequalizing bar pivoted .to the quick release catch that automaticallyreceives distant thermal signals and automatically'releases the gravityarm; a plurality of valves in the supply pipe and interlocking mechanismbe-v tween them; a distantly located manual release operable throughthermal connections to' the main valve release or by connection to oneor both valves separately or together so as to permit of the flow of acombustible substance, liquids under pressure, etc., in the service.pipe being stopped by manual effort from without the premises eventhough through many years of disuse the valve stems should stick andrefuse to operate under the accelerated blow of the weighted arm. Inthis way it is positively assured that the gas supply can be shut offfrom outside of the building by simply breaking the glass or otherwisesecuring access to an externally placed wall box, and with one pulloperating the release or positive closing mechanismaccording to whichone may at that time be found operable.-

The most important feature of all shut-oif devices must be a positiveand definite assur tical purposes.

' ance that whenever the occasion may arise the gas can be cut of!immediately from the outside of the building without in. any mannerencountering delay through the inoperatlveness of any of the interactingdetails of the devices installed.

' With these ends in view 1 illustrate in the accompanying drawings suchinstances of adaptation as shall disclose the interrelated principles ofoperation, etc., without limiting myself to the specific details ofconstruc tion shown.

Figure 1. is a side elevation of the street box, trigger box and valvebox of a system based on my improvements. Fig. 2. is a side operationsinteract when more than one valve is used. Fig. 3. is a purelydiagrammatic view showing how the principle of interlocking is reachedwhen two valves whose stems are parallel are employed. Fig. 4. 1s aperspective view showing the relation when two valves whose stems areperpendicular to each other aroused. Fig. 5. isa perspective viewshowing an instance of adaptation wherein a series of distant thermalpoints of control may be made to operate a. single release catch. Fig.6. is a perspective view disclosing the relation of distantly locatedpoints of automatic control and a distantly operated positivemanualelevation of Fig. 1 showing how the various shut-off for asinglevalve. Fig. 7. is a diagravity accelerated arm will break any stickingvalve stem that may be found, and the manner of operation instanced inFigs. 1, 2- and 4: be found suflicient for all prac- For purelyprecautionary reasons positively connected closing means may be used.

In the accompanying drawings the various reference characters representsome detail constructional parts that may beused in carrying out thefeatures of my invention.

Other, varied and equivalent forms will suggest themselves to personsversed in the art.

There are placed two valves E and D in the main service pipe. The intakepipe A connects with valve E the delivery pipe C to the valve D and theconnecting pipe or nipple B joins valves E and D. Valve D may beconsidered the main valve and E a supplemental valve that is broughtinto action so asto insure a complete shut-oil should the valve D notentirely seal off the low of gas for any reason. A valve stem atactuates the closure of valve D and stem'e performs a similar oflice forvalve E. On the valve stem 65 a lever 03 is secured. This lever carriesa pin 03 which controls the interlocking lever F. Tts upper end forms anextension 03* below which a weighted arm G is pivoted at d The arm G hasa slot 9 through which the end of lever d passes. It also has anabutment that engages the lever d when the arm G is raised to itshighest point and a striking projection 9 that engages the projectingend of lever d after weight'g has received considerable accelerationsubsequent to the release of catch H. In ear g ring 9 is placed so as tobe free to move therein. It is hooked over the projection it of thecatch H- This catch is of the quick release type being pivoted at 71,below the projection 72,. An eye If serves to hold the end of the chainZ. The catch H is pivoted in a bracket 1 between suitable ears and thebracket in turn is secured to a cross support J whose ends j are bent toone side so as to provide means for fastening the same to the case M. Inorder that the alinement of chain Z with respect to the eye h may not bedisturbed a bent support K is fastened to the cross support J and itsprojecting end is is riveted or otherwise fastened to the coversunderside of the valve'box M. The protective pipe L may be threaded intoIf and a lock nut Z clamps the casing against such projection. Thecasing M where the gas pipe A enters and C leaves may be pro vided withlock nuts on the inside and outside thereof so as to firmly hold thesame on the gas service pipe. The entire case,in addition may besupported ona suitable shelf if desired. V

The interlocking lever F is pivoted at f on a bracket f secured to thevalve E. llts short end engages projection d of the lever 03' and itslong end rests on the end e of the valve lever e secured to the valvestem 6. This arm is weighted at a? but the weight cannot act to closethe valve until the interlocking arm F is released from projection d onthe movement of lever (1 thus releasing e and freeing lever 6. It willbe seen that the weighted arm G can accelerate after being released bycatch H to a considerable extent until projection g engages the upperend d of valve lever d when the accumulated force will act to loosen anyset the valve stem d may have acquired.

The chain Z 'leads from the valve box M to a trigger box L located onthe basement ceiling. This box has a suitable cover L let into thecasing L and secured thereon by cars Z and Z". The cover may have aprojection at its bottom and conforming to a similar extension of thebox. Ahole in each part would register, the one with the other and apadlock passed therethrough would prevent access to the box byunauthorized persons. A similar precaution would no doubt be taken withrespect of the valve box M. Within the box L a trigger Z is pivoted atZ? between two supporting bars N. The trigger has an arm Z to which thechain n is attached that leads to the wall box U placed outside of thebuildings. A depend 'ing catch Z serves as a hook'for one end of afusible link I, the other end of which is secured in any suitable mannerto chain Z leading to the release catch H of the valve box M. The actionof the trigger is such that should the link Z for any reason stick tocatch l on account of long disuse it will be wiped .from off the samewhen the catch is swung up between the supporting bars N on which thetrigger is pivoted at Z". Suitable air holes may be formed in the cover,side and back as desired. The box is held in place by feet Z It isimportant to have the fusible element- Z located away from the valve boxand specially desirable to place it next to the ceiling as the spaceimmediately thereunder will. always be found warmer than on the level ofthe valve box. This difference will cause quicker action of the fusiblelinks. From box If a protective pipe 11, leads to wall or street box 0placed on the outside of the building. Within the pipe, chain n isplaced. Box 0 has an inwardly projecting boss 0 into which the pipe atis threaded. This serves to hold the pull ring n accessibly and awayfrom.

the back of .the box. A; fastening flange 0' may be formed on the box orscrews may be passed through the back on the inside of the casing. Adoor pivoted at 0" has a glass front 0 secured therein. It also has aprojection 0 matching a projection 0 on the box through both of which apadlock is placed. Tn case of necessity the glass is broken and the ringn, pulled which action moves the trigger Z releasing the catch H, whichreleases arm G thus efi'ecting the closure of the valves D and E. Thefusing of the link Z will release the catch H and in turn arm G. Inorder that thermal controls may be placed at distant points and actionimparted mechanically to catch H, a yoke or equalizing bar h is pivotedat h at rig t angles to its pivot 72., see Fig. 5. To the two projectingends of this yoke chains 71. are at tached. These may lead vertically tothe various stories of the buildings and be sup-v ported at theirextreme ends by hooks in. Fusible links Z may be fastene'din the chainWherever desired. If the chains are to run horizontally they may passover'idler In. situations Where thermalycontrols are not needed and anexclusive mechanical shut-01f will suflice I may dispense with theweighted lever, G, see Fig. 6, and asaprecaution against the accidentalreopening of the valve a locking device comprising a rod 'or link dactuated through the movement of lever {2 is employed. The automaticlocking is accomplished by means of a self-' acting agency (Z that isloosely held above the rod (Z within a casing of secured in anysuitablemanner to the valve casing. This casing has openings formed in thebottom so as to avoid the possibility of dirt accumulating therein. Theoperation of this automatic locking device is substantially as follows:When the lever is moved the arm (Z moves with it carrying the rod d fromunder the ball (1. The ball drops into the path of. the rod (.Z so thatit cannot be returned to its first position until the ball is valves andit is not required that they ,be 1

only manuallyoperated as the locking feature has the same merit whenused in either connection. a i I Should. only one valve be used and apositive distantly operated mechanical closing device be employed inconnection with distant thermal controls the relation of parts would besomewhat as shown in Fig. 6. In this the valve lever d is of bell crankform having the ertensionp from which a chain 72 leads to 7) of hellcrank P pivoted at p in any suitable receptacle, not shown, as triggerbox if. Chain n would reach from this point to the street box 0 asalready described.

Whenever a positive mechanical action from a distance is desired, inconnection with a local thermal control the arrangement would be similarto that shown in Fig.-

1. The chain n in addition to being fastened to the trigger'l would alsobe secured to bell crank P as in Fig. 6. The chain 1;, however, wouldpass to the bell crank being fastened to arm 12*. The other arm 39connects by means of a link 39 with a When two valves are usedas rockerp pivotedatp to valve arm e. This rocker presents a ledge 10 on whichthe hook of the interlocking arm F rests. In order that the rocker maynot be actuated untilmov'ed by link p its ledge p is placed almost aboveits pivoted center. The bell crank P has a'certain amount of idlemovement-so as to effect the release of the rocker p before starting toturn the valve stem 6.

'This'is effected by forming projection 39 on .the hub of the arm 6 andpivoting the bell crank-P thereon co-aXially with the valve stem 6. Theprojection 72 of the bell crank would not engage the projection 77 untilthe rocker p was released from the interlocking catch thus admitting ofclosing the valve E manually whether the valve D has been closed or not,the valves E and D not being shown in Fig. 7.

1. In shut oils, a main supply pipe, a plurality of shut oil valvesplaced in tandem therein. levers for releasing said valves substantiallysimultaneously but independently of each other and of the flow therein,inter locking means between the levers, catches for holding the leversin open position,

and means for-releasing the same automatically'or manually.

2. In shut offs, a main valve, a lever connected therewith, a weightedarm pivoted to said lever and movable independently thereof in the samerelative plane of rota tion as the valve, a stop determining the freemovement of the arm'with respect to the lever; a catch to hold the armand lever in an open position, and a plurality of distantlyioperatedcontrols for said catch.

3; ln shut offs, a main valve, a jointed ing a lever secured to saidvalve and a sup plementary weighted arm pivoted to the lever, a catch tohold the arms in a raised position, a support for said catch, and meansfor manually and automatically releasing the catch to close the valve. 7

4. In shut-oil's, a main pipe valve, an an ticulated operating leverconnected therewith, a Weight on the free end of said lever, a catch tohold the same in an open po" sition, a distantly controlled support forsaid catch. and means for automatically releasing the same at apredetermined. temperature.

5. In shut-oils. a main pipe valve. a control lever secured thereto, acatch to hold the lever and attached valve in open poate said catchwithout the normal operation.

of the other.

6. In shut oil's, a main pipe valve, flexible means for manuallyactuating thesamc at a distance therefrom, self actuated means nor allinally tending to closethevalve, means for holding the same open,- areleasetherefor, and separate automatic and manual means for actuatingthe release to permit of the leasing said "catch, and means for manuallyclosing the valve independently of .said catch.

8. A main valve, a control lever secured thereto, a pivotedwweightattached to said ,lever, means for supporting the Weight,

means for automatically releasing the support, means for manuallyclosing the valve at a distance therefrom independently of the support,and means for locking the control lever after it has been actuated.

9. A main valve, a means of control attached thereto, a catch tonormally hold the valve open, .means at a distance therefrom forautomatically releasingthe catch, means for manually closing the valveindependently of said catch, and automatic means for locking the valveafter it has been actuated.

10. A main supply pipe, a controlling alve located therein, a suitablecasing therefor, means for holding the valve open, a thermal boxindependent of the valve casing, a pull box located externally of thebuilding supplied by said pipe, suitable connections between the casingand pull box adapted to manually close the valve, connections betweenthe valve casing and thermal box adapted to automatically permit of theself closure of the valve at a predetermined temperature.

11. A main supply pipe, a shut oil valve placed therein, a casingtherefor, a thermal box, a trigger within the casing, suitableconnections between the box and casing adapted to normally hold thevalve open, a distantly placed pull box, and mechanical connectionsbetween thesame and the valve u hereby the valve maybe closed manuallyindependently of the trigger.

12. A main pipe, ashut-ofi valve located therein, a catch. for holdingthe same open, a suitable casing therefor, an equalizing bar pivoted tothe catch, and separate thermal elements connected to each end of saidbar.

13. A main valve, a control lever secured thereto, a pivotedWeightattached to said lever, means for supporting the Weight, means forautomatically releasing the support and means for manually closing thevalve at a distance therefrom independently of the support.

ii. A main valve, a two-part control lever including a Weight attachedthereto, a supleasing the holder,

ma am port for the Weighted member, a release for the same, and adistantly located and manually operated valve closingdevice whereby therelease ofthe support or the operation of the closing; deviceindependently of each other is attained.

. 15. A main pipe valve, a means of control attached thereto, areleasable holder to normally keep the valve open, flexible means at adistance therefrom adapted to maintain said holder inactive Withoutpreventing its being released automatically or by independently operatedmanual means, and a suitable conduit or casing to convey said flexiblemeans from one point to another.

16. A main pipe valve, a means of control attached thereto, a suitablecasing, a holder to normally keep the valve open supported by thecasing, means for automatically reindependent means for manually closingsaid valve, an inclosed box therefor, flexible connections leading fromsaid box to the valve, and suitable supports for said connections.

17. A main pipe, a shut off valve placed therein, a two part operating"lever connected therewith, a holder to normally keep the valve open, adistantly located pull box, flexible connections leading from the pullbox to the holder, automatic means interposed in such connectionsadapted to release the holder independently of said pull box, conduitsand guides inclosing and protecting the flexible connections Whereverrequired, a separate manually operated connection leading to the valve.from the pull box, and suitable guiding supports thereror. r

18. A. main pipe valve, a two-armed operating lever connected therewith,a holder to normally keep the valve open, means tending toclose the samepivoted toone arm and movable independently located pull box, flexibleconnections lead: ing therefrom to the other arm adapted to closemanually, and suitable supports and guides for said connections, 4

19. A main pipe-valve, an. operating lever, a Weighted arm pivoted tosaid leyer and adapted to close thevalve, an inclosmg casing, a holderadapted to keep the valve open supported by the casingg a distant pullbox, flexible connections leading therefrom to the valve whereby theWeighted arm may be disengaged from the holder and the valve closedmanually, and suitable sup ports and guides for SKlCl COIIHQCtlODS.

lln testimony whereof l aliix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

itnnov vv. 'ri-inis.

ll itnesses M. 'W. Nansen, S'rnriimz lll. Bnoons.

thereof, a distantly pie

